Stapler



Dec. 1, 1964 o. H. JOHNSON STAPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1962FIG. 2.

jj n w u@u OSCAR H. JOHNSON Dec. 1, 1964 o. H. JOHNSON STAPLER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1962 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR OSCAR H. JOHNSON United States Patent Mfg. llompany, oreester,Mass, a of Massachusetts Filed in, $62, Ser. No. 181L224 This inventionrelates to a stapler and more particularly to apparatus arranged todrive wire staples fiom a magazine through material to be fastened.

In the operation of staplers considerable difficulty has beenexperienced in the past because of the fact that staples come formedfrom various gauges of fiat wire. Commonly, the wire used is either .025or .050 inch in Width. When it is necessary to change from one gauge ofstaple to another (due, on one hand, to the necessity for a heavy dutystaple or, on the other hand, .to the necessity of saving money) it hasbeen necessary to use a different stapler or stapling machine. For theaverage home having two staplers is a rather expensive luxury and thetendency has been for a person wi h a light gauge stapler to use lightgauge staples even when heavy gauge staples are called for. These andother difiiculties experienced with the prior art devices have beenobviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide astapler capable, alternatively, of being used with staples of twodifierent gauge Another object of this invention is the provision of astapler of inexpensive and rugged construction which is, nevertheless,capable of operating with one of two different types of staples.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a staplingmachine which may be quickly and easily modified to one of twoconditions for handling two different types of staples.

It is another object of the invention to provide a stapling gun fordriving staples from a magazine supply, wherein a magazine of light dutystaples may be readily replaced with a magazine of heavy duty staples ina short time.

With these and other objects in View, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood byreference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stapler embodying the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the stapler;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the stapler;

FlG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the stapler showing elementsin a second condition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of another portion of the stapler in thesecond condition;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line Vl-Vl ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the stapler taken on the lineVllVll of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the stapler taken on the line VlHVlll ofFIG. 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1, wherein are best shown the general featuresof the invention, the stapler, indicated by the reference numeral 10,consists of a frame ll having a handle 12, and an actuating lever 1'3.Enclosed in the frame is a magazine 14 in which a series of staples iscarried, the staples having been fastened together temporarily in serialform by cement to form a channelshaped member, as is well known in thisart. Underlying Patented fiec. 1, 1964 the magazine and acting as acover therefor is a base member 15. The base member is formed of sheetmetal and is provided with a broad flat main body 16 which is formedwith curved flanges 17 along either edge, which flanges embrace thesides of the frame and magazine 14. At one end the base member ispivotally attached to the frame by means of a pivot pin 18, while at theother end it is provided with a transverse straight edge 19.

The stapler is similar in construction to the device shown in the patentof La Pointe and Priest No. 2,982,- 966. The handle is provided with anotch 21 located so that when the actuating lever 13 is in its lowerposition adjacent the handle 12 a wire loop 22 can engage the notch 21and hold the actuating lever in that position for compactness. Mountedon the frame 11 adjacent the edge 19 of the base member 15 is a lockinglever 23 provided with a pivot pin 24 and having a finger pad 25 for theactuation thereof. A wire spring 26 serves to hold the lever in lockingposition. The lower end of the lever engages a slot 27 formed in theflange 17 of the base member 15; each side of the frame 11 is providedwith such a locking lever 23 and the two levers operate together. At theother end of the frame 11 is mounted a locking lever 23 pivotallymounted on the outside of the frame by means of a pivot pin 23. At itsupper end, the lever is provided with a finger pad 31 and with a dimple32. The lower end is formed with a thin finger 33 which fits into a slot34 in the flange 17 of the base member, the slot being slightly largerthan the finger.

In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the edge 19 constitutes one boundary of atongue 35 which extends from the main body 16 of the base member 15. Itis much more restricted in width than the main body and is not providedwith flanges 17. The tongue 35 slides between the flanges of a channel36 forming part of the frame 11 and in a general way containing thestaple'driving mechanism. The channel 11 is provided with indentations37 and 38 which serve to guide a thin plate-like staple driver blade 39.The edge 19 of the base member 15 and the inner surface of the channel36 serve to define a narrow slot in which the blade 39 resides andthrough which the staple is driven. The staple in its downward passageis supported against tipping by the walls of the channel 11 and by theforward edge of a channel which is welded to the upper surface of thebase member 15, which channel is straddled by the series of staples asthey move toward the slot through which they are to be transported bythe driver blade 39. The forward edge of this channel lies in a verticalplane with the edge 19, so that the slot through which the staple movesand by which it is supported is defined by the inner walls of thechannel 36, the forward edge 19, and the inner surface of the channel41. As is evident in HQ 3, the channel 41 extends beyond the base member15 at the other end thereof from the edge 19 and forms two cars 42 and43 through which the pivot pin 18 passes. The pin also passes throughapertures the side flanges 4d and d5 of the magazine 14. The pivot pin18 also passes through side plates 46 and 47 of the frame 11. In thepreferred embodiment a locking lever 28 is provided on only one side ofthe stapler.

As is evident in FIG. 4, the dimple 32 is adapted to reside in one oftwo apertures 48 passing through the side plate 46 of the frame ll. InFIG. 4, the dimple 32 is shown located in the rearwardmost of the twoapertures 43 and the locking lever 28 is inclined with its finger 33 ina forward position. In FIG. 5 is shown the condition of the edge 19relative to the channel as when this second condition exists. It can beseen that the slot through which the staples pass is quite narrow. As amatter of fact, the slot as shown in FIG. 5 is of a size to pass a lightgauge staple formed of flat wire of a staple of heavy a approximately.025" width, while the slot in the first condition shown in FIG. 3 is ofa width to pass snugly gauge formed of wire of approximately .050"width. I

Referring now to FIG. 6, which is a sectional view taken in the area ofthe hinge pin 18, it can be seen that the hinge pin is, in actuality, ahollow rivet, which passes through relatively tightly-fitting aperturesin the side plate 47 and the flange 45 of the housing frame 11 and themagazine 14, respectively. On the other hand, the aperture 49 formed inthe ear 43 on the channel 41 which forms part of the base member 15 isslightly elongated. The amount of elongation indicated by the letter Ais equal to the dilference between the width of "the slots in the firstcondition shown in FIG. 3 and the second condition shown in FIG. 5.Similarly, the horizontal distance between the apertures 48 in the sideplate 46 of the frame 11 is also equal to the distance A.

FIG; 7. shows the detail of the locking lever 23 and associatedelements. The pivot pin holds the lever in close relationship to theside plate 46 of the frame and the dimple 32 resides in one of theapertures 48. The

position shown in FIG. 2), the lower end of the lever 28 finger 33 atthe lower end of the lever'extends through a slot 34 in the flange 17 ofthe base member 15.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood in view ofthe above description. The stapler is operated by grasping the actuatinglever 13 and the handle 12 and squeezing them together. As the lever isbrought closer to the handle 12 the staple driver blade 39 is drivendownwardly and strikes the forwardmost staple in the magazine 14 andcarries it downwardly through the slot into the article to be stapled.The series of staples are biased by a spring, in the well-known manner,toward the slot, so that, after the driver blade moves upwardly again,the next staple in line moves forwardly into the slot ready for driving.When it is desired to place more staples in the magazine 14, the lockinglever 23 is moved to release the end of the base member 15 so that itmay be pivoted about the pivot pin 18. In this condition, it is possibleto place a new series of staples so that it rests ontop of the channel16. Then, the base member is closed so that the stapler is in conditionfor operation for another period of time. If the staples that lie withinthe magazine are of the small gauge variety, the locking lever 28 shouldbe in the inclined condition shown in FIG. 4 so that the slot in thiscondition shown inFIG. 5 is narrow commensurate with a narrow gaugestaple and its support. If, however, it is desired to use a heavy gaugestaple, the locking lever should be moved to the upright position shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the finger 33 moves the base member 15rearwardly, and the slot is wide. If we consider the heavy gaugecondition as being a first position of the locking lever and the lightrgauge staple condition as being the second position of the lockinglever, it can be seen that the elements take. up one of two positions,depending on whether the lever 28 'is in the first position or thesecond position. In the first position shown in FIG. 2, the base member15 'ismoved as far to the right as possible, which means that the hingepin 18 resides to the left of the slotted aperture 49. This also meansthat the edge 19 is in its right hand position as shown in FIG. 3 andthat the slot is relatively wide. When the locking lever is linitssecond position, shown in FIG. 4, the dimple 32 resides in the righthand aperture 48 in the plate 46 of the frame. The base member 15 is ina left hand position so that the hinge pin 18' resides in the right handend of the slot 49 as shown in FIG. 6. In this a second position of thelocking lever 28 the edge 19 is in its left hand position shown in FIG.5 and the slot is relatively narrow for use with narrow gauge staples.

The lock 23 is spring-biased so that its bottom portion (that is to say,the hook which engages the base member 15) is pushed rearwardly. Thiscauses the base 15 to be constantly under spring pressure. This is trueexcept at such times that the locking lever 23 is pressed by the fingerto release the base 15 for inserting new staples and so on. Thisspring-biasing elfect pushes the base 15 rearwardly to as great anextent as is possible. Because of the slot 49, the base can moverearwardly until the forward part of the slot is contacted by the hollowpin 18. However, such rearward motion is prevented when the lever 28 isin the forward position (for use with small staples). When the lever 28is pressed so that the finger moves from the forward position to therearward position (in which the dimple 32 rests in the does not preventthe base 15 from sliding rearwardly.

Since the base is under spring force from the lever 23, it does so,forming the wider slot for the wider staple;

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof, it is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus descnibed, what is 4 claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A stapler capable of operating alternatively with two staples of twodifferent gauges, comprising (a) a frame including a magazine for aseries of staples,

V (b) a base member cooperating with the magazine, the base memberhaving an edge which cooperates with the housing to define a narrow slotthrough which the staples are driven one at a time,

(c) hinge means connecting the base member to the frame while permittinglinear movement therebetween,

(d) lever means for selectively positioning the base member in one oftwo positions relative to the frame whereby the said edge is .alsolocated in one of two positions in which the said slot is relativelynarrow or wide commensurate with the two gauges of the staples, and

(e) a spring-pressed latchto urge the base member rearwardly against thesaid lever means.

2. A stapler capable of operating alternatively with staples of twodifferent gauges, comprising (a) a frame including a magazine for aseries of V zine, the base member having an edge at one end whichcooperates with the housing to define a narrow slot through which thestaples are driven one at a time,

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting theother end of the base memberto the frame While permit ting linear movement therebetween,

(d) lever means for selectively positioning the base member in one oftwo positions relative to the frame whereby the said edge is alsolocated in one of two positions in which the said slot is relativelynarrow or wide commensurate with the two gauges of the staples, and

(e) a spring-pressed latch to urge the base member rearwardly againstthe said lever means.

3. A stapler capable of operating alternatively with staples of twodifferent gauges, comprising (a) a frame including, a staple driver anda magazine for a series of staples,

(b) an elongated flat base member extending along one edge of thehousing and operative as a cover (c) hinge means for pivotallyconnecting the other end of the base member to the frame whilepermitting linear movement therebetween,

(d) lever means for selectively positioning the base member into andlocking it in one of two positions 5 relative to the frame whereby thesaid edge is also located in one of two positions in which the said slotis relatively narrow or Wide commensurate with the two gauges of thestaples, and

(e) a spring-pressed latch to urge the base member 10 rearwardly againstthe said lever means.

4. A stapler as set forth in claim 3, wherein the said lock means is alever pivoted on the frame and having a free end which engages a slot inthe base member and having a dimple which engages one of two apertures15 in the frame corresponding to the said two positions.

5. A stapler as set forth in claim 3, wherein the hinge means consistsof a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the frame and the basemember, the apertures in the base member being slightly elongated in thedirection of the said linear movement, the elongation beingsubstantially the same as the distance between the said two positions ofthe said edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,107,169 Weber Feb. 1, 1938 2,109,203 Spencer Feb. 22, 1938 2,181,387Weber Nov. 28, 1939 2,982,966 La Pointe May 9, 1961 2,991,476 SeiterJuly 11, 1961

1. A STAPLER CAPABLE OF OPERATING ALTERNATIVELY WITH TWO STAPLES OF TWODIFFERENT GAUGES, COMPRISING (A) A FRAME INCLUDING A MAGAZINE FOR ASERIES OF STAPLES, (B) A BASE MEMBER COOPERATING WITH THE MAGAZINE, THEBASE MEMBER HAVING AN EDGE WHICH COOPERATES WITH THE HOUSING TO DEFINE ANARROW SLOT THROUGH WHICH THE STAPLES ARE DRIVEN ONE AT A TIME, (C)HINGE MEANS CONNECTING THE BASE MEMBER TO THE FRAME WHILE PERMITTINGLINEAR MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, (D) LEVER MEANS FOR SELECTIVELYPOSITIONING THE BASE MEMBER IN ONE OF TWO POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THEFRAME WHEREBY THE SAID EDGE IS ALSO LOCATED IN ONE OF TWO POSITIONS INWHICH THE SAID SLOT IS RELATIVELY NARROW OR WIDE COMMENSURATE WITH THETWO GAUGES OF THE STAPLES, AND (E) A SPRING-PRESSED LATCH TO URGE THEBASE MEMBER REARWARDLY AGAINST THE SAID LEVER MEANS.